Senior External Relations Specialist

Job Overview

This role contributes to Wawanesa’s success through advocacy, communication, and relationship building with external stakeholders, including government decision makers. As the Senior External Relations Specialist, you will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies that advance Wawanesa’s interests and objectives with government officials, regulatory agencies, industry associations, and other stakeholders. You will also be responsible for communication tasks such as internal briefing documents, speaking notes for senior leadership, creation of and issuing news releases, and media monitoring. 

This approximate split for this role is 70% government and industry relations / 30% external communications.

Job Responsibilities

Government and Industry Relations

• Monitor and analyze relevant legislative and regulatory developments at the federal, provincial, and local levels and develop strategies to advance Wawanesa’s policy priorities.
• Develop and execute strategies to influence public policy, legislation, and regulations related to Wawanesa.
• Represent Wawanesa in meetings with government officials, trade associations, and other relevant partners.
• Attend industry events with the goal of strengthening relationships with stakeholders and to collaborate with industry associations and coalitions to advance common policy objectives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with corporate communications, legal, and compliance teams on strategy and regulatory compliance.
• Organize and implement government relations events, such as lobbying days or awareness campaigns focused on insurance issues.
• Advise senior management on governmental issues and potential impacts on the insurance industry.
• Management of internal weekly and monthly government relations updates and compliance reports.
• Coordinate with internal teams, including legal, compliance, and product development, to develop positions on relevant government policies.
• Prepare and present reports to senior management on the status of government relations and legislative initiatives specific to the insurance industry.

Communications

• Organize media and external thought leadership engagements for senior leadership, identifying high-impact opportunities and preparing strategic briefing materials that elevate the company’s public profile and reputation.
• Develop news releases, op-eds, letters, company-wide media reports, and other communications that effectively articulate corporate priorities and positions.
• Oversee media monitoring, KPI tracking, and post-campaign performance reporting to inform continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bilingualism (French) considered an asset. 
• Post-secondary education in communications, political science, public administration, law, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5-7 years of experience in government relations, communications, public policy, or a related field, with a proven track record of successful advocacy and policy influence.
• Proven track record of successful advocacy and relationship management with government and stakeholder entities such as industry associations. 
• Experience in drafting speaking notes, briefing documents, and presentations for senior level leaders.
• Strong understanding of the Canadian political system, legislative process, and regulatory environment.
• Experience in the creation of news releases and working with media. 
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to articulate complex issues clearly and persuasively.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of internal and external partners.
• Critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel as needed to meet with government officials and other external and internal collaborators.